06/09/2017

Vigil For Homeless Man Cancelled

A vigil for a homeless man who died while sleeping on the streets of Dublin last week has been cancelled following revelations that he was on the sex offenders' register.

Campaigners Home Sweet Home cancelled the vigil for Stephen 'Jack' Watson which was to be held outside Apollo House on Thursday, 07 September.

In a statement, Home Sweet Home said: "Those associated with the Home Sweet Home campaign are shocked at reports that a homeless man who passed away last week had been deported from Australia for very serious crimes.

"Out of respect for the victims of these crimes a planned vigil outside Apollo House on Thursday evening is cancelled. This does not change the fact that many people have died as a result of our housing emergency. This is totally unacceptable and urgently needs to be addressed.

"The Artists and Trade Unionists involved in HSH have had some discussions about building a permanent policy driven intervention into the housing emergency that would systemically target the root causes of this policy made catastrophe.

"Such an initiative not only forms part of a solution to the emergency, but serves as a permanent memorial to all those who have had their lives ruined by it, in perpetuity."

(CD/JP)

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